Dr. Younan Nowzaradan is the founder of the self-titled Dr. Now diet. It’s the same eating program he prescribes to his patients as they prepared for weight-loss surgery on the reality TV show My 600-lb Life.
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We asked dietitian and weight-loss expert Lauren Harris-Pincus, RDN, founder of Nutrition Starring You and author of The Everything Easy Pre-Diabetes Cookbook, to share her thoughts on the Dr. Now diet. She covers both the good and the bad — and why most people will want to steer clear of this diet.
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The intention of the Dr. Now diet is to help people with obesity to lose pounds before weight-loss surgery. Losing weight before this type of procedure makes the operation safer and reduces the risk of post-op complications, according to Penn Medicine.
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There are three main weight-loss procedure options, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK):
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The Dr. Now diet focuses on three factors that affect our calorie intake. Dr. Nowzaradan refers to these factors as F.A.T., which is an acronym for frequency, amount and type.
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The Dr. Now diet provides recommendations for these three aspects:
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To prepare for weight-loss surgery, patients are asked to follow the F.A.T. guidelines of the Dr. Now diet. From there, patients are instructed to follow three steps as outlined in the book Dr. Nowzardan Diet Plan Book for Beginners:
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The Dr. Now diet has some potential benefits, but they come at a risk.
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For most adults, especially those with a larger body, eating just 1,200 calories per day means eating at a calorie deficit. And when you’re eating fewer calories than your body burns, you will lose weight. And because the calorie amount is so low, the weight loss will likely be rapid, especially at first.
Losing weight prior to weight-loss surgery is typically not required or a standard in any guidelines, but research shows doing so may reduce the post-operative mortality rate. A May 2020 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that even moderate weight loss, e.g., less than five percent of your body weight, can lower the risk of death after surgery.
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“The Dr. Now diet is based on nutrient-dense whole foods, something that should form the base of any healthy diet,” Harris-Pincus says.
But that is where the benefits of the nutritional quality of the diet peter out.
“If the diet was expanded to include similar foods at a higher calorie level plus add-ins like nuts, seeds, heart-healthy oils and some whole grains, it could work in the long term as long as there is some room for indulgences,” Harris-Pincus says.
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As with many diets, there are some potential risks with the Dr. Now diet, including:
It’s tough to meet your nutritional needs when you’re eating only 1,200 calories per day, especially when doing so means cutting out foods that might be high in healthy fats, which help with the absorption of some crucial vitamins and minerals.
“The diet is super restrictive and bans some very healthy, nutrient-dense foods like eggs, nuts, olive oil, certain fruits, potatoes and oatmeal,” Harris-Pincus says.
“A diet this restrictive doesn’t reasonably allow for enjoying foods at life events like holidays, weddings and other celebrations with family and friends. It’s also difficult to stick to when traveling or dining out,” Harris-Pincus says.
Add these foods to your Dr. Now diet food list:
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All vegetables are allowed except for potatoes. Stick to whole fruits (no juice) except for cantaloupe, mangoes, pineapple and banana.
Whole-grain carbs are allowed, such as:
Keep these foods off your Dr. Now foods shopping list.
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If you’re following the Dr. Now diet under medical supervision, consider trying this meal plan featuring Dr. Now diet-approved recipes.
This diet may be appropriate for some folks, but only under certain conditions.
“This diet is extremely restrictive and is meant to be followed short term, and under medical supervision for people with extreme obesity, who are preparing for bariatric surgery,” Harris-Pincus says. “As a temporary pre-op diet, the benefit might outweigh the risks, but that does not hold true for everyone looking to lose weight.”
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